themselves in an affair of this nature when they had no certain Records by which they might transmit the knowledge of former times to Posterity No tradition of that Antiquity can be preserved without writing why then do they obtrude this fabulous Story since it cannot be received by any known rules of Credibility we have no vestige of it from any Author that lived near those times The Vindicator uses to refer us in some Instances to his own little Books I do him a greater kindness when I refer him to the Learned Du Launoy and from several Treatises and reasonings of his which now I have not at command he may learn by what Rules to distinguish fabulous Accounts from true and solid History and not only from him but from hundreds if they do but argue from principles of common sense and the acknowledg'd rules of Logick Indeed the Presbyterians might have given us some of the Acts of their Assemblies in that ancient Period and the rules of Discipline as well as obtrude upon us this Romantick Account And if I dare interpose my Opinion I think that the late illiterate Monks advanc'd this Fable to gratifie the Pope's design of exempting the religious Orders from Episcopal Jurisdiction by which Engine the Bishops were kept low and the Reformation hindred and the religious Orders encouraged to check their Authority in all places This is so known that it needs neither proof nor illustration and this Fiction of the Culdees governing a Church without the authority of a Bishop invented in the days of Barbarism and Superstition seems naturally calculated to advance this Design and to depress the Episcopal Jurisdiction For the Monks that propagated this Story were more conversant in little Legends than the Writings of the Ancients And hardly is there any thing more opposite to the Universal Testimony and simplicity of those Ages than this Monkish Fable of Presbyterian Government towards the end of the Second Century or the beginnings of the Third when all the known Records of the Christian Church unanimously declare for the Hierarchy of Bishop Presbyter and Deacon and the Succession of Bishops from the Apostles It is not possible to preserve the memory of the greatest men the greatest Conquests or the most remarkable Actions unless they are timeously committed to writing Unwritten Tradition goes but a short way and is not able to support it self with any certainty for any number of years Is it likely that the Scotish Church had any other Ecclesiastical Government than what was received in the Christian Church when they were converted to the Faith and is it not very sad that there are no parallel Instances of any other Church from abroad By whom were they Converted And is it not reasonable to think that such as were instrumental in their Conversion would plant the Ecclesiastical Government amongst them that they were acquainted with themselves And are there any footsteps of such a Government amongst the more polite and learned Nations who because they had the Advantages of learning might sooner transmit to Posterity the Knowledge of their Ecclesiastical Affairs And let me ask the Presbyterians if they had all the Testimonies of the Ancients in favours of their parity and that we only had the Authority of some fabulous Monks in some remote Corner of the World to support our Hierarchy and that in an Age of shameful Ignorance and Darkness when they imposed upon mankind and multiplyed their visionary Legends I ask how the Vindicator would treat us if we appeared with our Culdees against the undoubted Records of the Fathers the Universal Suffrages of Councels the Succession of the famous Sees and the glorious Cloud of Witnesses that by their Zeal and Sufferings enlightened the World I think he would treat us very huffingly and let us hear more than once his oft repeated and beloved Metaphor of the Seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the woman Would not he tell us of our bold and silly pretences to Antiquity However when the Vindicator names good Authors foreign or domestick in the third fourth fifth sixth or seventh Century and this is more than by the Rules of Credibility or History we need yield to him then it is time to consider his Testimonies Let him Read Blondel again and see whether that great Antiquary can name any Ancient Writer to uphold this Monastick Dream But if I should grant that there had been some Priests in Scotland before there were Bishops in it there is nothing in that Concession to favor Presbytery for they had their Mission and Ordination from Bishops in other places to whom they might give an account of their Travels and Success and this was ordinary before Nations were Converted But when they received the Faith all Ecclesiastical Officers were then encouraged to continue amongst them and this is it that we confidently affirm that where there are any Records of Nations and Countries Converted to the Faith there do we meet with the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy of Bishop Presbyter and Deacon over the whole Christian Church The Primitive Confessors and Martyrs Travailed the World over to gain Proselytes to Christianity some Bishops some Presbyters some Deacons some Lay-men but wherever there was any considerable number of Converts then they became an Organical Church and had Bishops and Presbyters Constituted until their sound went unto all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world He runs down the Author of the History of the General Assembly as one not acquainted with the Actings of Grace in the Soul because forsooth he had not spoke with reverence enough of Mr. Gray's Sermons in that Page cited on the Margin The Vindicator discovers much of his own creeping Genius when he discourses of the Act of their Assembly against the private Administration of Baptism nor is it possible to pursue him in such a Wilderness of little impertinencies Their pretended Assembly would have done better if they had left the Administration of Baptism to the discretion of Ministers in all places it is certainly much to be wished that Baptism be Administred with all publick Solemnity when there is not an apparent necessity to recede from so laudable a Custom but to make Discourses to the People on particular Texts of Scripture at the Administration of Baptism is a thing in it self altogether new and unnecessary If the nature use and design of it be seriously explained there needs no more And to think a Sermon in the modern and usual Notion necessary is as great Superstition as that of theirs who fancy that the effects of it follow ex opere operato which Phrase is very little understood by the People and perhaps others who should teach the People do not throughly understand it neither Next I shall take notice of what we are told by the Vindicator Pag. 174. That the Presbyterians could not comply with Human Ceremonies with a good Conscience in the
and simoniacally shortly thereafter bargain with a Nobleman that he might be made Bishop of Glasgow and then his Co-Presbyters who themselves were not so successful handled him to purpose but with such indiscretion that in pursuing him they trampled on the King and all the Civil Authority in so far that when they were called to answer for illegal Invasions on the Kings Authority they did boldly protest that tho they compeared in civility to the King yet that they did not acknowledge the King 〈◊〉 Councils Right in any Ecclesiastick matter This was on the 12th of April 1582. And shortly thereafter in one of their Assemblies holden at St. Andrews Mr. Andrew Melvil told the Master of Requests who was sent by the King to stop some of their illegal procedures that they did not meddle in Civil matters but in Ecclesiastick matters they had sufficient Authority to proceed and did so The practice on these grounds did shortly follow for on the 23d of August 1582. the King was made Prisoner by a Faction of Lords at the house of Ruthwen and on the 13th of October 1582. the Assembly of the Church at Edenburg did by an Act approve of that perduellion and declared that it was good service to God and his Chucrh And in the beginning of January 1583. two Ambassadors came from France and one from England to endeavour the Kings Liberty the Assembly ordered the Ministers to declaim against the impious Design of liberating the King and they did rail at the Ambassadors by name and stirred up the Rabble their faithful Confederates on all occasions not to suffer the Badge of the French Order to be seen on their Streets it being the mark of the Beast a badge of Antichrist and to shew their good Manners as well as their sound Doctrine the King having appointed the Magistrates of Edenburgh to entertain the Ambassadors on the 16th of February 1583. The Ministers appointed a solemn Fast on that very day and civilly preached from morning till night a matter of no great difficulty to such as preach for such ends and with so little rule cursing the Magistrates and their Company and were with difficulty kept from excommunicating them The King having delivered himself from his restraint Mr. Dury and others of the Ministry openly assert that there was no injury done to the King and Mr. Melvil declaimed frequently against the King for which he was called before the Council but he boldly declined the King and Council as Judges in prima Instantia of what 's preached in the Pulpit even tho it were high Treason and so he fled to England from whence he kindled that Conspiracy which shortly thereafter brought the Earl of Gowry and others to the Scaffold These seditious doctrines and practices moved the whole Estates of the Kingdom in the year 1584 on the 22d day of May in a Parliament at Edenburgh by a solemn Act to assert the Kings Sovereign Power over all persons and in all causes as his undoubted ancient Right and that it was Treason to decline his Authority in any matter and discharging all Assemblies Convocations and all Jurisdictions spiritual or temporal not allowed by the King and Estates and prohibiting all factions and seditious Preachings Sermons and all slanderous Speeches against the King The Ministers declaimed against this and reproached this Act of Parliament Notwithstanding of all this the King was prevail'd with to allow Mr. Melvil and his Complices to return to their Churches but no sooner had they this favour than Mr. Andrew calls an Assembly to St. Andrews it consisted of Presbyters and Laicks and one Mr. Robert Wilky a Regent Professour and Laick was chosen Moderator There in a most ridiculous manner they Cite the Archbishop of St. Andrews on twenty four hours to Compear before them and he not compearing they caused a young indiscreet Fellow called Hunter to Excommunicate him for having accession to that Act of Parliament lately mentioned he being a Member of Parliament and an Assembly meeting this very year at Edenburgh would have taken up this difference and in order thereto did Absolve the Archbishop from Excommunication yet Mr. Andrew and his adherents protested against the Assembly and declared that notwithstanding of their Absolution yet the Archbishop should be still esteemed as one delivered to Sathan until signs of true Repentance appeared And though upon all occasions they magnifie their Assemblies and their pretended parity yet when the far major number was against their humour they regarded not their plurality For in Anno 1591. when the Synod of St. Andrews had determined to constitute one Mr. Weems Minister at Leuchars Mr. Melvil and some few more viz. six were for one Mr. Walace and when the far major part would not submit to his Opinion though they pretend that the Kingdom of Christ is invaded when Bishops or Princes oppose the majority of a Synod yet Mr. Melvil and his six withdraw to another place and admitted Mr. Walace to the Ministry of Leuchars and the Synod did admit Mr. Weems But this had almost engaged the Parishioners in Blood and the scussle could not be ended until Melvil's Faction prevailed so far against the Synod that neither of the two should be Minister at that Church The Reason why I insist on this is to let them of a contrary Opinion see how justly our dislike of a parity in Church Offices is Founded and that there being no imaginable warrant for it from Scripture Apostolick Practice Primitive Fathers Councils or any well Established Christian Church and that the best plea for it seems to be the pretended parity that is alledged amongst the first Reformers in Scotland we judged it fit first to shew that there was an imparity then and always thereafter in this Church and that the design of parity was always rejected by our Kings Parliaments and the most and best of our Clergy and that the immoralities and Seditions of such as contended for parity gives us no invitation to be amongst their Successors It is true that the King in the year 1590. and 1591. and 1592. was so often brought into danger twice was he Captive and constantly in great trouble by the Seditions of Mr. Andrew Melvil and his firy complices that in the year 1592. he did consent to grant a great deal of Jurisdiction to Presbyteries Synods and General Assemblies by Act of Parliament and this of necessity to evite a threatned Rebellion and that by the advice of Chancellor Maitland who in Council advised the King to give them much of their will for that 〈◊〉 the short way to make them odious as already they were troubleseme to the Nation and then they would be turned out by all Yet there was never an Act or motion of Abolishing Episcopacy but on the contrary they continued in their Dioceses and Churches always thereafter and in the very year 1594. Cunnigham Bishop of Aberdeen did Babtize Prince Henry at Sterling but the King was forced
to connive a while at at their Insolence for they had preached the People into a persuasion that the King was to betray his own Crown and Kingdoms to the King of Spain And when three Noblemen were brought to Tryal before the Justice the Ministers would needs order the Process in October 1593 and to back them they stirred up multitudes of the Rabble to Arms thereby to force Justice to decide in their favour nor would they disband or abstain from coming before the Judges in armed Crowds although the King and Council did by Proclamation prohibit them If this be Presbyterian Government it must be confessed that Anno 1590 1591 1592 and 1593. Presbyters had it solely But all this time Bishops did exist by Law enjoyed their Rents and preached in their Churches if you trust not us Notice the most Authentic Records of the Kingdom By Act of Parliament 1. Jac. 6. Chap. 7. Ministers are ordered to be presented by the Patrons to the Superintendent of the Diocese Note At this time most of the Bishops were Popish which occasioned the Protestants to appoint Superintendents Anno 1572. Parl. 3. Jac. 6. Chap 45. The Government of the Church is declared to be in the Archbishops Bishops and Superintendents Note Both Bishops and Superintendents are contemporary then in the Church The like owned Chap. 46. 48. and 54. of that Parliament In the year 1573. The Authority of the Bishops is owned by the first Act of the 4. Par. Jac. 6. In the year 1578. the like by Act. 63. Parl. 5. Jac. 6. In the year 1579. the like by Act. 71. Parliam 6. Jac. 6. In the year 1581. That the Bishops did continue in the Church appears from Act 100. Parl. 7. Jac. 6. The like appears from the Acts 106 and 114 of that Parliament In the year 1584. The Bishops Authority fully owned Act. 132. Parl. 8. Jac. 6 In the year 1587. It appears that Prelacy existed then by Act 28. Parl. 11. Jac. 6. Also in that 11. Parl. It appears by the Act of Annexation that Prelacy did still exist by Law even although their Temporalties were annexed to the Crown and by the 111. Act of that 11. Parl. In the year 1591 1592 1593 and 1594. The King and Bishops could not stop the Insolence of Presbyters nor their meeting in Synods and Assemblies without any interposition of the Royal Authority but this hindered not but that the Bishops did still exist by Law and exerced some part of their Office and in all Parliaments and Conventions of Estates the Prelates did did always Sit and Vote as the first of the three Estates as the Records and Sederunts of all the Parliaments will prove In the year 1596. Leslie Bishop of Ross dying at Brussels Mr. David Lindsey was presented by the King to the Bishoprick the very next year In the year 1598. there was a Conference appointed at Falkland betwixt the Commissioners of the Assembly and some appointed by the King to meet with them where they agreed on ten Articles or Propositions of Policy for the Church relating chiefly to the Clergy's Votes in Parliament and the Elections of Bishops in the Dioceses some of these Propositions were foolish but it was thought convenient that the King should comply with those Hot Heads in some things for at that time Severals began to debate his Right of Succession to the Crown of England and so he would have all quiet at Home yet still this is evident that Bishops did then exist by Law and that altho something concerning them was debated yet their Office and Order was not In the year 1600 these forementioned Articles were appoved in the Assembly at Monross March 28 1600. and to that Assembly Mr. Dury who was the chief Tool with Mr. Melvil for parity at his death did write an Exhortation disowning his former Errors and earnestly advising them to submit to the ancient Order and to chuse good Bishops of the best of the Ministers In the year 1601. the King called an Assembly of the Church to meet at Brunt Island where many good things were Enacted both for the true Liberty of the Church and for reclaiming the Popish Nobility from their Errors which proved more effectual and pacific than all the former furious Methods which at that time were promoted by a Hot Headed Man called Davidson who by a Letter to the Assembly incited them to declare against the Kings Hypocrisie and other Errors The Assembly would have proceeded to Censure him but the King would not allow it saying it was matter of Joy that these Hot Heads were reduced to one or some few In the year 1602. the King in an Assembly at Halyrood-House did shew great Clemency to some firy Ministers whom the Assembly would have Censured as also he gave great Satisfaction to the whole Assembly and Nation by his excellent Proposals for establishing Provisions both for Bishops and Presbyters And in this Assembly of the Church was the fifth of August appointed an Anniversary Thanksgiving for the Kings Delivery from Gowry's Conspiracy Before the Diet appointed for the next General Assembly the Crown of England did fall to the King by the Death of Queen Elizabeth so there was no meeting of Church General Assemblies for a while but the few remaining Hot Headed Presbyters were very busie on the Kings removal so far and fearing the excellent Order of the English Church the great Safety and Peace of Britain depending on an intire and full Concord of the Island they were apprehensive that upon such Considerations the King would heartily promote a further Establishment of Episcopal Jurisdiction in Scotland The Presbyterians in this Juncture did busily stir up Prejudices in the People against the Church of England tho undoubtedly the best Reformed Church and greatest Bulwark against Popery And though the King for good Reasons when he went to England Adjourned the General Assembly from July 1604 to July 1605. yet these Men prevailed with Nine of the Fifty Presbyteries of Scotland to keep the Meeting notwithstanding of the Kings Prorogation where Thirteen Persons meeting did most Seditiously run into such Declarations against the Statutes and standing Laws as were by the Judicatures declared Treason and for which Severals of the Thirteen were Condemned before the Justices For they could not be persuaded either to acknowledge or revoke their seditious Pasquils but they were afterwards pardoned by the King when they confessed that the Chancellour encouraged their Meeting in July 1604. and proved it which forced the Chancellour to prove likewise that they promised to connive at his being a Papist and his Possession of what he had of the Church Lands upon Condition he should own them against Episcopacy whereupon the King said that the Presbyterians would betray the Protestant Religion in hatred to Episcopacy and the Chancellour would betray Episcopacy for greed of their Temporalties So far my Author And now from all this I infer that the first Reformers of our Religion in
Scotland declaimed against the Tyranny and incroachments of the Bishop of Rome but never against the Episcopal Jurisdiction as such That Mr. Wisehart and some others of our most Eminent Reformers and Martyrs knew no other Government of the Church but Episcopacy The first being bred in the University of Cambridge and others who were his Disciples followed his Sentiments And that the first Reformers submitted to the Episcopal Jurisdiction of such of the Bishops as Preached and promoted the Protestant Doctrine Secondly That though the Episcopal Authority was frequently weakned crushed and interrupted by the Popular Insurrections and Conspiracies of Mr. Melvil's Faction yet it was never legally abolished but rather continued in the Church secured and defended by many Laws ☞ Thirdly That the Presbyterians always watched the difficult Postures of the King's Affairs and whenever they found him at a disadvantage then they made him much more uneasie by Popular Tumults and Insurrections Fourthly That the Romish Clergy never pleaded their Exemptions from the Secular Powers more violently and factiously than the Melvilian Tribe in Scotland Fifthly That Episcopacy was not Abolished in that very year wherein they pretend that Presbytery was Established but that Episcopacy in Anno 1592. was still retained in all its legal Rights Privileges and Authority It is true that the Insolence of Presbyters was not then to be resisted but by granting them great Liberties and that this Liberty was granted by the necessitous Circumstances that the King was in Sixthly That the most violent of their Faction had not then the Impudence to quarrel the Superiority of a Bishop above a Presbyter as a thing unlawful in it self but that Mr. Melvil made his approaches to the ruin of Episcopacy by plausible pretences viz. That it was abused and that it was not exercised according to its primitive designs and simplicity Seventhly I observe that Episcopacy was never legally Abolished in Scotland until the Tragical Rebellion in King Charles the First his Reign broke forth and we need not inform the World how unwilling King Charles the Martyr was to Abolish Episcopacy Eighthly That the Royal Authority never gave way to their Rebellion and Insolence when they could hinder it but sometimes they were forced to yield to grant them great Liberties to avoid the heavier Blows and Thunder Claps of their Fury Ninthly That we can have no better Evidence for any Matter of Fact than the Publick Records of Parliament Tenthly We may clearly discern that the Vindicators Book in defence of his Party is one Hypocritical Shuffle from top to bottom For if Mr. Melvil the Founder of Presbytery and his Confederates did affront the Kings Person and declined his Authority and provoked the Rabble and Excommunicated the Archbishop and was so rude to the Ambassadors of Foreign Princes and profanely appointed a Fast with no other design than to bassle the King to his Teeth Then let me ask the Vindicator why all this Apology to persuade the World that Presbyterians are not capable of such Villanies as is the Rabbling of the Clergy Nay I must tell him Presbyterians did nothing upon this last Revolution but what they Practised when they had not such opportunities to to vent their Malice And by this unquestionable History he and all others may see to how little purpose his Distinction of sober Presbyterians and Cameronians will serve him for the Cameronians have no Principles different from Presbyterians nor the Presbyterians from Cameronians nor is it possible to resute the Cameronians by Presbyterian Principles Eleventhly We may gather from the preceeding History and the constant Practice of Presbyterians that they have no Principles of Unity amongst themselves for the lesser number if more Popular than their Brethren may remonstrate with that Insolence and Fury against the plurality as to stop the whole course of Discipline as in the forementioned case of Mr. Andrew Melvil Twelsthly The Spirit of Presbytery is a Spirit of Tyranny and cannot endure to Obey and therefore such as are fully Poisoned with its Principles whenever the Decisions of the Publick contradict their own peculiar Plan and Scheme they immediately fly in the Face of that Authority they formerly pretended to support and by general words which at the bottom have no particular signification but what they please to put upon them they pick quarrels and exceptions against all their own Judicatures Governments Civil and Ecclesiastical This is visible as from many instances so from the famous Protestations of several biggorted Incendiaries against the General Assembly of the Presbyterians Anno 1651. because that General Assembly did promote the Publick Resolutions in order to the Restoring the King to the Exercise of his Government they pretend that the General Assembly was not rightly constituted that the generality of the Godly did adhere to the Protestors that the Publick Resolutioners had made defection because they were for bringing again into Places of Power and Trust such as would probably serve the King against the Rebellion then on Foot upon such pretences they decline their Supreme National Judicatory and because that Print is known but to very few of the present Generation and since it is a Monument of their Villany and Stubbornness it may be seen at the end of this Letter I have no more to add but that I wish my Skill to serve you were equal to my Zeal and Affection for I am in all sincerity Your most obedient Servant The Protestation of divers Ministers against the Proceedings of the late Commission of the Church of Scotland as also against the lawfulness of the present pretended Assembly Right Reverend HOW gracious God hath been to the Church of Scotland in giving her pure Ordinances we trust that while we live it shall be acknowledged with thanfulness by us unto the Most High of whom we desire Mercy and Grace to adhere unto the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government Established in this Land amongst the many sad Tokens of the Lords Indignation and Wrath against this Kirk the present Difference of his Servants in the Ministry is looked upon by us and we believe by all the godly in the Land as one of the greatest And as we hold it a Duty deeply to be humbled before the Lord in the Sense thereof and by all lawful and fair means within the compass of our power and station to endeavour the remedy so we do acknowledge a free General Assembly lawfully Called and rightly Constituted and proceeding with Meekness and Love in the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Rule of the Word and the Acts and Constitutions of this Kirk to be amongst the first and most effectual means appointed of God for obtaining the same and for preserving Purity and advancing the power of the Work of Reformation in this Age and transmitting the same unspotted to our Posterity and to the Ages and Generations that are to come but that as the faithful Servants of Jesus Christ in his Church in
Church Polity to be pulled down and the entire Scheme of their Government to be defaced And all this for no other Reason and upon no wiser Consideration than because their Enemies pretended Religion and gave most sacred Names to the most abominable Crimes And now again that they are uppermost they are very angry that men do not shut their Eyes and suffer their Follies and Tyranny to overspread the Nation without Contradiction But what was it that their Ministers did suffer upon the Restitution of King Charles the Second Why they would not take Presentations from the Patron nor Collation from the Bishop they would possess their Benefices against the Law and in defiance of Authority but was any of them turned out that did comply with the Law So earnest were some of our Ecclesiastical Governors to keep them in their Places that they made such offers of Peace and Accommodation as none could refuse but sullen and desperate Incendiaries nor was there any thing required of them but what the most rigid Presbyterians might comply with if their Zeal to support their Faction had not infatuated them as much against the Vow of Baptism as against the common Peace and Safety of their Country The Presbyterians in Scotland are generally blinded with this fatal prejudice an Evidence of their incurable Enthusiasm they think that no man can act any thing against the Presbyterians but he immediately acts against the light of his own Conscience They take it for granted that their way is the only true Religion that it is plainly revealed and that they give greater Evidences of Piety and Religion than any other Society of Christians upon Earth and if you do not believe this presently without Examination you are far from the Kingdom of God Nay you are alienated from the life of God Hence it is that the Presbyterians conclude that whatever is done against their Party is done rather against the Light and Conviction of their Enemies than the petulance and vanity of their own Fraternity therefore they insinuate upon all occasions that all Reasonings against them proceed from Prophanity and Atheism or from men void of all Principles and Religion You may as easily reason a Bedlamite out of his fancied Honors and Principalities as persuade any of their deluded Disciples that they may be in an Errour and this they owe to their cunning Teachers who tyrannize over their Belief as imperiously as the cruel Brach-mans do among the Indians But let me enquire in the next place calmly did the meek Covenanters when they got the ascendent in King Charles the First his time treat their Opposite with that gentleness and discretion that condescention and longanimity that became the true Gospel of our Saviour But so very far from this temper that they prosecuted the Malignants with all Rage and Cruelty And if there were not another instance of their Cruelty but the Sufferings of the excellent Bishop Wishart men might easily penetrate into the Genius and Spirit of the Party Then their Pulpits thundered against the Malignants all the Curses in the Bible and all were Malignants in their Dialect that were not Presbyterians Add to this the universal and restless endeavours of their Ministers to ruin the Persons Estates and Families of all that opposed their Designs and their Discipline was made an Engine to pry into the greatest Secrets of Families and the Presbyterian Chaplain who was ordinarily the Ministers Intelligencer complained in his Prayers of what he thought amiss in the Family or Neighbourhood nay the Soundest part of the Nation groaned under this Tyrannical Pedantry as the Israelites did under the Egyptians when their bloody Scaffolds stood erected for some whole weeks together Then it was that their modest Ministers said that their Cause was like to prosper when they justified one Crime by the Commission of another and the whole Scheme of their Arbitrary Tyranny from their Success and Prosperity when their Turkish Argument of Force and Arms ran down the Doctrines of our Meek and Crucified Saviour And now forsooth they must tell us that the Episcopal Clergy were rigid and peevish and severe to their Parishioners when perhaps they did not represent to the Judges in their several bounds the tenth part of those Crimes that were committed against the Church and State and yet the Law did oblige them to give up the names of Recusants And do not we see that the Presbyterians since the late Revolution have out done the diligence of all men against the Clergy and Laity of the Episcopal persuasion for the whole Faction applyed their utmost force since the Revolution to ruin her Neighbours and possess themselves of all their Places Civil Military and Ecclesiastical The truth is there are no people upon Earth that value Government and Sovereignty as the Presbyterians do It is the Idol they bow to there is nothing gratifies their highest Passions so much as a power to tyrannize If the whole world were once under their Feet they would look chearful their Blood would Circulate more briskly untill this be obtained there is no rest nor peace for mankind The Discipline the Sacred Discipline of Geneve must wrestle with all Authority until the Consumation of all things But if the former excuse did not serve his Design yet it is often insinuated all a long his Book that most of the Clergy were wicked men But let me suppose the truth of this infamous accusation who made them Judges of the Scandalous Clergy Whose Delegats were they in the Execution of this Punishment I have told you before that I am acquainted with very few of the Clergy of the Western Shires but I am informed by judicious and intelligent Men that generally the Clergy in those Shires were Grave Sober and Assiduous in the work of the Ministry That most of them endeavoured upon all occasions to gain those Enthusiasts from their Schism and Delusion and were very successful in this Christian design if a new Indulgence after the Defeat at Bothwel Bridge had not buoyed up their Interest As for the scandalous Aspersions cast upon the Clergy by the Western Presbyterians it is certain that by one of the Vindicators own Rules we ought not to believe them because they are all of them of a Party and indeed of such a Party who from their first appearance in the World placed much of their strength in reproaching the Clergy If some of the Ministers in the West did not live according to the Dignity of their Character we ought rather all of us who have not renounced our Baptism to lament it rather than insult and upbraid them with it Indeed a Minister whose Employment is to fit other men for Eternal Life and yet lives in open and scandalous opposition to his Rule is the most monstrous thing in Nature All the Satyrical Writings of the Poets and all the Invectives of Orators cannot furnish one word to give a true Idea of that loathsome Creature But
Worship of God It is true the Vindicator hath not in this place any Discourse to prove this unlawful but I take notice of it as one of the Theological hints that are interspersed in his Defamatory Libel But may not Ceremonies of Human Appointment if they decently and gravely express our Affections be used in the Worship of God Did not Solomon advise us to look to our Feet when we come into the house of God and the same Ceremony was practised under the Patriarchal Dispensation viz. That of putting off our Shoes when we approach the Holy Place as Moses was enjoyned by God himself because the place he stood upon was holy ground and this was an Advertisement that he ought to do what was ordinarily done by all the Eastern Nations when he approached the place of Gods peculiar Residence And pray Was it not a significant Ceremony expressive of their Reverence and adoration In like manner Sackcloth and Ashes did amongst all Nations signifie grief and sorrow therefore in their Humiliations they were used to express their Remorse and Contritions The Presbyterians fix upon a word and pronounce it with disdain and contempt they repeat it with Indignation and then their zealous Disciples when they hear that word pronounced presently let fly their thoughts to some monstrous thing or other that is not at all signified by that word yet the Idea of some such ugly thing sticks to their Imagination for no other reason but that Mas John frown'd when he heard that word pronounced What other reason can we give why the word significant Ceremony should disturb their Imaginations Why may not we express our Thoughts Passions and Affections by Ceremonies as well as by words Since both are innocent and both serve the same design But the Covenanters themselves used significant Ceremonies when they imposed the Covenant he that Swore was to lift up his right hand bare you are to take notice that it was the Right and not the Left and it was lifted up and not otherwise extended It was bare and not covered and was not this a significant Ceremony of Human Institution In the Worship of God nature taught Mankind to approach God with all the decent Marks of Distance and Adoration and they that declaim most against Ceremonies do practice them frequently only they do this more awkwardly and with a figure becoming their singularity but this will never convince the Intelligent part of Mankind that they are either wiser or better than any of their Neighbours True Religion obliges us to comply with the innocent decencies of Mankind and to affect nothing that 's extraordinary or singular Our Saviour left us this Example he eat and drank with Publicans and Sinners and affected no Customs different from the Jews If the Ceremonies be practised by the Nation amongst whom we live if they decently express our Reverence or our Humiliation I see no reason why they may not be used in the Service of God as well as words especially when they are commanded by our lawful Superiours as necessary Instruments of Publick Order and Uniformity nor can they change their Nature by being commanded for such and such Ceremonies are in their Nature indifferent yet some one or other must be used and which of them we shall use may very well be determined by our lawful Superiors Sitting for any thing I know was never looked upon as a Posture of Reverence yet the Presbyterians in Scotland for the most part fit all of them in time of Publick Prayer what they signifie by it I know not I am sure not that which becomes Prayer and the Worship of the most High God We look upon the decent Ceremonies of the Church as Appendages or Expressions but not constituent parts of Worship as is foolishly and peevishly alledged by our Adversaries and I may put the Vindicator in mind that the reason why some of the Clergy in Scotland Read the Book of Common-Prayer is not what he suggests according to his wonted Candor and Ingenuity but rather an open avowing of their Principles when it was visible to the World there was no possibility of uniting with the Presbyterians Another thing I take notice of is to be met with Pag. 196 197. The Author of that Epistle that is subjoyned to the Vindicators Book tells us to the reproach of our Bishops that some of them upon the Restoration of the Government submitted to reordination to the great scandal not only of this but other Reformed Churches I know none were scandalized at it but such as were resolved to pick quarrels with every thing that the Bishops would do It was no scandal to the Foreign Churches or the French Divines All of them the greatest men among them are reordained when they come to England and they chearfully submit to it And this was never condemned by any Publick Act of the Gallican Church nor by none of their Eminent Divines The Church of England does not absolutely condemn their Ordinations in France but rather waves the debate but she is determined to preserve an unquestionable succession of Priests within her own Bounds As to the Matter of Fact narrated in Mr. Meldrum's Letter I know nothing of it and therefore I ought to say no more than I know He tells us that he subscribed a Paper and that the Paper was drawn out of the Archbishops Letter by a Friend of his and that now he repents for Subscribing this Paper and that though he was in great Friendship afterwards with Bishop Scougal and did what others in that Interval did yet he thinks that by all this he paid no formal Canonical Obedience From all which I observe that it is a very happy thing to live in or near an University as Mr. Meldrum did Distinctions are very useful things one had better carry a good bundle of them about him than all your famous Elixirs and Essences one may pay material Canonical Obedience but it is dangerous to pay it formally the great mischief is in the formality of paying it but for my part I have sworn Canonical Obedience formally and I have paid it materially and shall never decline my Bishops Spiritual Authority when ever there is occasion and I think all the Presbyters of that National Church are as much obliged to obey their Spiritual Governours notwithstanding of all that past in favors of the opposite Faction since the Revolution And now I think it high time to go forward to the fourth Particular that I promised viz. To let you see the several Periods of Episcopacy and Presbytery in the Church of Scotland since the Reformation And I am the more confident to give you satisfaction because I had the happiness to peruse a Manuscript written by a person of great honour and true Learning relating to this very affair and it is of so much the greater weight and Authority that it is not only founded on our best Historians but on the authentick Records of Parliament and
former times did by his good Hand on them in the right Administration of free and lawful General Assemblies bring the Work of Reformation in Scotland unto a great Perfoction and nigh Conformity with the first Pattern so unfaithful Men minding their own things more than things of Christ and Usurping over their Brethres and the Lords Inheritance did deface the beauty thereof first by encroaching upon the Liberty and Freedom of Assemblies afterwards by taking away the very Assemblies themselves Therefore remembring and calling to mind the many Bonds and Obligations that lie upon us from the Lord and being desirous to be found faithful in this day of Tentation and to exonerate our Consciences as in his sight and to avoid the accession unto that guiltiness in which many have involved themselves And conceiving that this Meeting is not a lawful General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in regard that the Election of Commissioners to the same have been limited and prejudiced in the due Liberty thereof by a Letter and Act of their Commissioners of the last Assembly sent to Presbyteries appointing such Brethren as after Conference remained unsatisfied with and continued to oppose the Publick Resolutions to be Cited to the General Assembly And in regard the Commission of many Burghs and Presbyteries are absent as wanting free access by reason of the Motions of the Enemy and in regard that many of the Commissioners of the last General Assembly have carried on a course of defection contrary to the Trust committed to them and to the Acts and Constitutions of this Church and who in their Remonstrances and Papers have stirred up the Civil Magistrate against such who are unsatisfied in their Consciences with their Proceedings and who have prelimited the Assembly by their Letter and Act formerly mentioned are admitted to Sit and Voted as Members of the Assembly and their Moderator chosen to be Moderator of the Assembly notwithstanding timous exception was made against them that they ought not to be admitted as Members of the Assembly until their Proceedings were first tried and approven by the Assembly and in regard that his Majesty and his Majesties Commissioners by his Speech did incite too hard Courses against these who are unsatisfied in their Consciences with the Proceedings of the Commissioners before the trial and approbation of the Commission Book or any Act made by the Assembly for the approving their Proceedings we do upon these and many others important grounds and reasons to be proponed and given in time and place convenient in the name of the Church of Scotland and in our names and in the name of all Ministers Ruling Elders and Professours of this Kirk who do or shall adhere to us Protest against the Validity and Constitution of this Assembly as not being free and lawful and that they may not assume unto themselves any Authority nor exercise any Power or Jurisdiction for determining of Controversies making of Acts emitting of Declarations judging of Protestations or Appeals or Proceedings of Synods or inferior Judicatories or Censuring Persons or Papers or issuing of Commissions of whatsoever sort to any persons whatsoever and in particular Protests that they may not proceed unto the Approbation or Ratification of the Proceedings of the former Commission not only because of the want of just Power and Authority so to do but also because these Proceedings contain many things contrary to the Trust committed to their Commissioners especially their allowing and carrying on a Conjunction with the Malignant Party and bringing them into Places of Power and Trust in the Judicatories and in the Army contrary to the Word of God Solemn League and Covenant the Solemn Confession of Sins and Engagement to Duties the constant Tenor of Warnings Declarations Remonstrances Causes of Humiliations Letters Supplications Acts and Constitutions of this Kirk and the laying a Foundation for the Civil Magistrate to meddle with these things which concern Ministers their Doctrine and Exercise of Ministerial Duties before they be Cited Tried and Censured by the Judicatories of the Kirk And we Protest that whatsoever Determinations Acts Ratifications Declarations Censures or Commissions that shall be made or given by them may be Void and Null and may not be interpreted as binding to the Kirk of Scotland but that notwithstanding thereof it may be free for us and such as adhere to us to Exercise our Ministry and enjoy the due Christian Liberty of our Consciences according to the Word of God National Covenant Solemn League and Covenant the Confession of Sins and Engagements to Duties and all the Acts and Constitutions of this Kirk and that there may be liberty to chuse Commissioners and to Convene a Free and Lawful General Assembly when there shall be need and the Lord shall give opportunity and to add what further reasons shall have weight for strengthning this our Protestation and shewing the nullity of this Assembly and the unwarrantableness of the Proceedings of the Commissioners of the former Assembly and that these presents may be put upon Record in the Registers of the General Assembly to be extant ad futuram rei memoriam and that we may have a subscribed Extract under the Clerks hand Subscribed and presented at St. Andrews 20. July 1651. by Mr. A. G. Moderator of the last Assembly Mr. Samuel Rutherford Mr. James Guthery Mr. Patrick Gillespy Mr. John Meinzies Mr. Ephraim Melvin Mr. John Carstaires Mr. William Adair Mr. Thomas Wyllie Mr. John Nevoy Mr. James Simpson Mr. William Guthery Mr. Alexander Moncreif Mr. John Hamilton in Inderkip Mr. Robert Muire Mr. John Hart. Mr. Andrew Donaldson Mr. Robert Keith And ten other Ministers Right Reverend WE are constrained by many necessities and by transferring of the Assembly to be absent from your subsequent meeting and having laid to Heart what the Lord requireth of us in this day of so sad a Dispensation and so sore a Controversie against the Land We think our selves bound in Conscience to lay open to you that we are much unsatisfied with the Proceedings of the Commissioners of the late General Assembly relating to the in-bringing and in-trusting of the Malignant Party with the Consequences thereof there issuing forth one Act with a Letter to the prejudice as we conceive of the Presbyteries Election of Commissioners to this Assembly which hath need to be looked on least the Freedom of this High Court of Jesus Christ by such preparatives be infringed We wish it be your Wisdoms care that begun Evils be remedied our bleeding Wounds with tender Hands bound up and that the fierce Wrath of the Lord smoaking in our Bowels may be quenched and do in all humility and reverence of your Wisdoms and tenderness of respect to precious Men whom we much honour and love in the Lord though in this matter we most disser from them in Judgments Protest that the foresaid Proceedings be not Ratified and approven by you and that we be not involved in the Guilt and Consequences to the